For whatever reason, if either Vobsub or VSfilter is installed to read the subtitles (IDX/SUB files) placed in the same folder as the AVI, VMC isn't able to even read the thumbnails off the AVI, much less, play them.  It simply crashes the entire shell with the culprit being either Vobsub.dll or VSfilter.dll (tried both).    Only ffdshow is installed at the default settings and output.

Zoom Player plays the AVI's just fine, but WMP11 will often just sit there without any error messages and just won't play the file, although clearly ffdshow and VSfilter are sitting in the system tray. 

What seems to be the problem here?  Others say these 2 apps play nicely w/ VMC....

Well, I found out the problem:  If you have the auto-loading VSfilter registered, then whenever you play an AVI with a subtitle file in the same directory, VSfilter will crash VMC *unless* the subtitles tab in ffdshow is checked.  The way to avoid this is either to check off the subtitles tab OR remove the subtitles file from the AVI-containing directory.

There should be no need for VSFilter if you are already using ffdshow. the included vobsub works fine.  Nice to see that you got it working tho.

 

Also, dont be like me and have both vobsubs and text file subs in the same folder.. it WILL load both and superimpose them :)

 

I don't think any of the recent builds in that last couple months include vobsub.  This is why they recommend installing VSfilter along with Haali's Media Splitter as perfect supplements to ffdshow on their home page.  I don't really know what the difference between VSfilter and Vobsub is aside from the fact that VSfilter is much newer and for playback only, whereas Vobsub has config GUI along with some other tools to cut and splice vobsubs I believe.  

I didn't need any of that, so I *thought* I only have VSfilter, and I think I have the problems solved as per my last post. 

Now, I suppose that explains why there is a subtitles tab in ffdshow and why it is necessary to check it off if there is a subtitle file in the same directory as the AVI.   It seems that's a necessary thing to do, otherwise VSfilter (vobsub) goes nuts in VMC, unless of course there is no subtitle file. 

Also, what is a bit puzzling, and it could be the way some DVD's are mastered, is the way in which some English subtitles are displayed.  Normally, I have English subtitles selected, and only the "forced" subtitles will show, i.e. translations of non-English in a predominantly English movie.   Some movies, however, will show the subtitles throughout the entire movie, even when English is spoken.  In those cases, I have to move the subtitle file out of the directory, as I don't see a way to configure VSfilter from the system tray while the movie is playing.   Anyone have a suggestion?